xandrew245x
Member
Thats what I thought, but I wasnt sure if I could do that, thank you for clearing that up!
xandrew25xs DIY led build
- Thread starter xandrew245x
- Start date
xandrew245x
Member
Ok, so if I get the led kit does that have everything I need to run them? I would just need to mount them to a heatsink and wire them up, and plug it in?
xandrew245x
Member
Do I still need the Potentiomers if I use the meanwells drivers, if not then the kit comes with everyting minsu the heatsink frame and tools, which I already have picked out.
2quills
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by xandrew245x http:///t/390400/diy-led/20#post_3458253
Do I still need the Potentiomers if I use the meanwells drivers, if not then the kit comes with everyting minsu the heatsink frame and tools, which I already have picked out.
No you'll need to order those separately. They do have a 2 in 1 dimming pot on that site that a lot of people are using. And you need the 10v power supply adapter that goes with it. Just need one of those.
Originally Posted by xandrew245x http:///t/390400/diy-led/20#post_3458253
Do I still need the Potentiomers if I use the meanwells drivers, if not then the kit comes with everyting minsu the heatsink frame and tools, which I already have picked out.
No you'll need to order those separately. They do have a 2 in 1 dimming pot on that site that a lot of people are using. And you need the 10v power supply adapter that goes with it. Just need one of those.
xandrew245x
Member
Okay here is my final list for my DIY leds
Rapidled.com
2-36 Ultra Premium LED DIY Kit with Dimmable Drivers $280.00 ea
1-4 LED Moonlight Kit $18.00ea
1-DIY 2 color dimming kit $30.00 ea
Heatsinkusa.com
2- 12x8.5 heat sinks $29.52 each
coolerguys.com
2-Lian Li 140mm Crystal Clear Ball Bearing Fan w Blue LEDS CF-1412A $12.95 ea
1-CG 110v AC to 12v DC Power Supply with 4 Pin Molex (2000mA) $14.95 ea
1- Case Bay 4pin Molex Extension for 3.5in Bay $4.95 ea
I currently have these led fans mounted in the back of my entertainment stand with a temp controller and they are awesome!
Aluminum stock for frame $34.70
I believe this is it, minus the tools, which I all have except for a soldering iron, let me know what you guys think.
Rapidled.com
2-36 Ultra Premium LED DIY Kit with Dimmable Drivers $280.00 ea
1-4 LED Moonlight Kit $18.00ea
1-DIY 2 color dimming kit $30.00 ea
Heatsinkusa.com
2- 12x8.5 heat sinks $29.52 each
coolerguys.com
2-Lian Li 140mm Crystal Clear Ball Bearing Fan w Blue LEDS CF-1412A $12.95 ea
1-CG 110v AC to 12v DC Power Supply with 4 Pin Molex (2000mA) $14.95 ea
1- Case Bay 4pin Molex Extension for 3.5in Bay $4.95 ea
I currently have these led fans mounted in the back of my entertainment stand with a temp controller and they are awesome!
Aluminum stock for frame $34.70
I believe this is it, minus the tools, which I all have except for a soldering iron, let me know what you guys think.
2quills
Well-Known Member
Don't forget solder and 20awg wire. I'd recommend a heat gun and some heat shrink tubing but it's option depending on your plans. And you'll surely want to look into some type of splash shield to protect the leds/wiring from any possible splash and help guard against moisture. People who haven't done that have reported finding themselves having to replace things after about 2 years of running because of moisture.
But yeah, it looks like you've pretty much got it all. Have you decided how you want to mount the led stars to the heat sinks?
But yeah, it looks like you've pretty much got it all. Have you decided how you want to mount the led stars to the heat sinks?
xandrew245x
Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///t/390400/diy-led/20#post_3458603
Don't forget solder and 20awg wire. I'd recommend a heat gun and some heat shrink tubing but it's option depending on your plans. And you'll surely want to look into some type of splash shield to protect the leds/wiring from any possible splash and help guard against moisture. People who haven't done that have reported finding themselves having to replace things after about 2 years of running because of moisture.
But yeah, it looks like you've pretty much got it all. Have you decided how you want to mount the led stars to the heat sinks?
Yeah, I was going to use heat shrinks, were I work, we use larger heatshrinks to wire pumps and such up, but we picked up some smaller ones for other wiring things, and they are perftect size for this application, still have a whole bunch of them I could have. I was going to place and acrylic piece between the leds and the water to keep water from splashing in them, I don't know how well it would keep moisture out, I could build them into an acrylic boxs.
As for mounting them, I think I was just going to glue them on with the adhesive they supply with the kits, drilling and mountin every single light would get to be a pain, but then again, it would make it much easier to replace them, if they were to go bad.
Also, do you think my design will work, that is how someone else built there, and I liked the design, however he didn't use any lens, and he used less bulbs, so with me using more bulbs+lenses I should get a good even spread of light correct?
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///t/390400/diy-led/20#post_3458603
Don't forget solder and 20awg wire. I'd recommend a heat gun and some heat shrink tubing but it's option depending on your plans. And you'll surely want to look into some type of splash shield to protect the leds/wiring from any possible splash and help guard against moisture. People who haven't done that have reported finding themselves having to replace things after about 2 years of running because of moisture.
But yeah, it looks like you've pretty much got it all. Have you decided how you want to mount the led stars to the heat sinks?
Yeah, I was going to use heat shrinks, were I work, we use larger heatshrinks to wire pumps and such up, but we picked up some smaller ones for other wiring things, and they are perftect size for this application, still have a whole bunch of them I could have. I was going to place and acrylic piece between the leds and the water to keep water from splashing in them, I don't know how well it would keep moisture out, I could build them into an acrylic boxs.
As for mounting them, I think I was just going to glue them on with the adhesive they supply with the kits, drilling and mountin every single light would get to be a pain, but then again, it would make it much easier to replace them, if they were to go bad.
Also, do you think my design will work, that is how someone else built there, and I liked the design, however he didn't use any lens, and he used less bulbs, so with me using more bulbs+lenses I should get a good even spread of light correct?
2quills
Well-Known Member
If you have fairly adequate ventilation around the heat sinks then you don't need to go terribly over kill on the moisture protection unless you want to...but it's you're choice. Moisture to some extent isn't something that you're ever really going to be able to avoid 100% in most cases. Just make sure you have the splash protection.
Save your self a lot of time and yes, just use the thermal epoxy. They're not that difficult to remove if you have to. Just sand the area clean after removal and make sure it's clean before you attach another one.
You may want to stay with 80 degree optics unless you plan on hanging the fixture really high off the tank. Like over 14" high. You'll have plenty of coverage and plenty of light.
Save your self a lot of time and yes, just use the thermal epoxy. They're not that difficult to remove if you have to. Just sand the area clean after removal and make sure it's clean before you attach another one.
You may want to stay with 80 degree optics unless you plan on hanging the fixture really high off the tank. Like over 14" high. You'll have plenty of coverage and plenty of light.
xandrew245x
Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///t/390400/diy-led/20#post_3458621
If you have fairly adequate ventilation around the heat sinks then you don't need to go terribly over kill on the moisture protection unless you want to...but it's you're choice. Moisture to some extent isn't something that you're ever really going to be able to avoid 100% in most cases. Just make sure you have the splash protection.
Save your self a lot of time and yes, just use the thermal epoxy. They're not that difficult to remove if you have to. Just sand the area clean after removal and make sure it's clean before you attach another one.
You may want to stay with 80 degree optics unless you plan on hanging the fixture really high off the tank. Like over 14" high. You'll have plenty of coverage and plenty of light.
Okay, well either I was going to build a open top and back canopy for my light to mount in, or build legs for it to stand on my tank edges, so either way it should have plenty of ventilation.
80 degree optics should work, either way I do it, the light will probably only be 6-10" from the tank, so they should work fine.
Guess i'm going to order my aluminum stock, and heat sinks and get this show on the road, going to try to spread it out over the next couple months.
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///t/390400/diy-led/20#post_3458621
If you have fairly adequate ventilation around the heat sinks then you don't need to go terribly over kill on the moisture protection unless you want to...but it's you're choice. Moisture to some extent isn't something that you're ever really going to be able to avoid 100% in most cases. Just make sure you have the splash protection.
Save your self a lot of time and yes, just use the thermal epoxy. They're not that difficult to remove if you have to. Just sand the area clean after removal and make sure it's clean before you attach another one.
You may want to stay with 80 degree optics unless you plan on hanging the fixture really high off the tank. Like over 14" high. You'll have plenty of coverage and plenty of light.
Okay, well either I was going to build a open top and back canopy for my light to mount in, or build legs for it to stand on my tank edges, so either way it should have plenty of ventilation.
80 degree optics should work, either way I do it, the light will probably only be 6-10" from the tank, so they should work fine.
Guess i'm going to order my aluminum stock, and heat sinks and get this show on the road, going to try to spread it out over the next couple months.
xandrew245x
Member
Will do, payday is Wensday, so I plan on getting my aluminum stock, and my heatsinks and get a frame built! Just need to change the title now.
xandrew245x
Member
Had a quick question, when buying the retrofit kit, you have the option between two different drivers, i'm not sure which one, but I think I should get the Mean Well ELN-60-48D dimmable driver, since I will be controlling it with the 2 color dimming kit, am I correct, or can I use either one?
xandrew245x
Member
I will be ordering my heatsinks and aluminum stock tomorrow, I decided to go with L shaped 3/16" thick aluminum stock, should be plenty thick enough to hold my heatsinks. I'm ready to get this show on the road!
xandrew245x
Member
Yeah, I was going to go with the 48 led kit, but if I use the heatsinks I was planning on, I won't need to spend the extra money on a fan system, the heatsinks should do their job well enough.
I'm going to order 3/16" thick 1x1 L shaped aluminum stock, I'm hoping this will be strong enough to hold the heat sinks, by what I have read it should be, luckily its only 20 some dollars worth of aluminum, so if it doesn't work out, it won't hurt my wallet that bad!
I'm going to order 3/16" thick 1x1 L shaped aluminum stock, I'm hoping this will be strong enough to hold the heat sinks, by what I have read it should be, luckily its only 20 some dollars worth of aluminum, so if it doesn't work out, it won't hurt my wallet that bad!
xandrew245x
Member
Altered my design, this is all around cheaper, and fits my needs a little better.
The frame will be 47" by 10", I will be running 4 1" aluminum stock lengthwise, this is where the leds will be mounted.
I have ordered my stock, and i'm excited to get it so I can get this underway!
The frame will be 47" by 10", I will be running 4 1" aluminum stock lengthwise, this is where the leds will be mounted.
I have ordered my stock, and i'm excited to get it so I can get this underway!
xandrew245x
Member
Following along.
BTW if your tank has a center brace you may want to take that into consideration with your led spacings. Would hate to have you put the leds on and have two or 3 do nothing but shine on the brace.
Yeah lol, in that picture the lights were just thrown on there because I drew it up quick, I'm moving them in a couple inches from the edge and not placing any over my center brace